Hisatsinom presents rock art from Australia

As part of the Four Corners Lecture Series, the Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society presents David Lee on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St., Cortez, to discuss “Closer than we Know: Comparing the Rock Art of Australia and Western North America.”

Lee will discuss Australian and New World rock art. Despite being a world apart, there are a surprising number of parallels in the production, evolution, and context of rock art on the two continents.

More information: Kari Schleher, 505-269-4475.

Staff

Authors tour kicks off at Cortez Library

The Cortez Library, 202 N. Park St., will showcase local writers through the The Amazing Authors’ Tour. On Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. author Leroy Lewis will discuss his book “A Hopi Migration Story.”

The authors will tour other libraries, including Bayfield and Telluride.

For more information, call (970) 564-4079.

Every Kid in a Park targets fourth-graders

Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument invite all fourth-grade students to visit the parks for free as part of the White House’s new program, Every Kid in a Park.

Fourth-grade students can visit www.everykidinapark.gov to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks.

Fourth-graders and their families can use this pass through Aug. 31, 2016.

The website also includes learning activities aligned to educational standards; trip planning tools; safety and packing tips; and information for educators and parents.

The program will allow fourth-grade educators, youth-group leaders and their students to participate through field trips and other learning experiences.

Information: www.nps.gov.

Elk in Mesa Verde will be stars of talk

Ranger Paul Morey will discuss the natural history of elk and their management within and around Mesa Verde at 7 p.m. Friday at the Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park.

Morey will discuss elk biology, the history of elk management in Colorado, elk use by ancestral Puebloans and current elk management in the area.

A field trip Saturday morning will give participants a chance to see and hear elk inside the park.

Morey has been the wildlife program manager at Mesa Verde for the past five years. He is responsible for managing wildlife in the park, ranging from bees to elk.

For more information, visit www.mesaverde.org/four-corners-lecture-series.

Safety-net programs available for farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency reminds farmers and ranchers that they have until Sept. 30 to enroll in several key Farm Bill safety net programs: Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage and the Margin Protection Program for Dairy.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs trigger financial protections for agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues.

For more information about the programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Margin Protection Program for Dairy offers protection to producers when the difference between the milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

For more information about the program, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy.

For more information about the Farm Service Agency, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

To find a local office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

Staff